Issues with a vacant property include:
- £500m per annum vandalism damage is incurred to vacant property (Aviva Insurance)
- 18% – the reduction in value of property when adjacent to a vacant (Hometrack)
- 22,000 – The number of squatters in England with 100,000 incidents per year (Advisory Service for Squatters)
- Squatting or illegal occupation of non-residential property is NOT a criminal offence
- Most insurance cover becomes significantly reduced if the property is vacant for more than 30-days
- £770m per annum metal theft (Metal Theft Taskforce)
- Landlords have statutory obligations under the Defective Premises Act and Occupiers Liability Act where trespassers can sue landlords should they be injured within a vacant property
